Create alternate renditions

Multimedia that is developed in Flash can be played on any computer that has Adobe Reader 9. For multimedia in other formats, create alternate renditions or add other renditions to ensure that users can play the video clip on their systems. For example, multimedia that is added by using the Create Legacy Multimedia link in the Insert Video dialog box could have alternate renditions. Set up one rendition as a large, high-quality video file and set up another smaller, low-quality rendition for slower systems. Specify the required system settings for each rendition to play. Users can then select the rendition that best matches their system.

Renditions are assigned to the Mouse Up action by default. When the user clicks, Acrobat plays the rendition. You can assign different renditions to different actions, although (in most cases) the Mouse Up action is best.

  1. Using the Sound tool  or the Video tool , double-click the play area.
  2. On the Settings tab, click Add Rendition, choose one of the following options, and then click OK:
    Using A File
    Double-click the file you want to add to the rendition list. For example, add a low-resolution version of the video clip that contains the same content as the first rendition). The content type is selected automatically.

    Using A URL
    Type the URL, and then specify the content type.

    By Copying An Existing Rendition
    Select the rendition that you want to copy.

  3. Select the rendition, and then click Edit Rendition. Specify the minimum system requirements, play back requirements, and other settings to differentiate it from other renditions.
  4. Add and edit as many renditions as needed.
  5. Use the arrow keys on the right side of the pop-up menu to arrange the renditions in the appropriate order. Renditions are played in the order listed, provided the rendition meets the requirements you’ve specified.
  6. When you finish adding and editing renditions, click Close.

Rendition settings

The Rendition Settings dialog box appears when you click Edit Rendition on the Settings tab of the Multimedia Properties dialog box.

Rendition settings dialog box
Note: Media players have different capabilities. Some rendition settings, such as player controls, are not available for some players. In such cases, you can determine whether the player may be used to play the rendition by changing the requirement settings on the Playback Requirements tab.
Media Settings
Use this tab to specify general properties for the video clip:
Rendition Name
Enter the name for the rendition, which will appear in the list of renditions. (This name does not determine which media file is played.)

Rendition Is Accessible To JavaScript
Use this option if you’re using JavaScript code that makes use of the rendition.

Media Clip Location
Specify the clip by typing or navigating to it. (When you specify the clip location, Content Type is set automatically. Changing the Content Type setting may cause problems playing the media.)

Rendition Alternate Text
Type a description of the rendition that may be read aloud to visually impaired viewers.

Allow Temp File
Specify whether writing a temp file is allowed and when. Some media players write a temp file when they play a video clip. If you want to prevent users from easily copying the media content in a secure document, you may want to disallow the creation of temp files. However, selecting this setting may prevent the video from being played by media players that require the use of temp files.

Playback Settings
Use this tab to determine how the clip is played.
Keep Player Open
Select whether you want the player to close after it plays the video clip, be left open indefinitely, or be left open for the number of seconds you specify.

Volume
Lets you specify how loud the video is played.

Show Player Controls
When selected, displays a controller bar at the bottom of the play area that lets users stop, pause, and play, provided the media player supports player controls.

Repeat
Lets you replay a clip two or more times, or continuously.

Player List
Click Add to specify a player and the settings that are required, preferred, or disallowed to play the video clip. Select the name of the player, the minimum version number of the player, and the status. If you set the status of more than one player to Required, only one of the required players may be used to play the rendition. If you set the status of players to Preferred, these players are selected over nonpreferred players (but not over required players). If you set the status of players to Disallowed, they are not used to play the rendition.

Playback Location
Use this tab to determine whether a video clip is played in the PDF, remains hidden while played (recommended for sound clips), is played in a floating window, or is played full screen. When Floating Window is selected, you can add a title, set the window position, and let the user resize or close the window. Note that the user’s preference settings may require (or ignore) title bar text for playback.

The window position is determined relative to the document window, application window, or, for dual-monitor configurations, the virtual desktop or primary desktop. You may also specify the width and height of the floating window. Click Get From Media to obtain the video clip’s dimensions, if available, and then edit as necessary.

System Requirements
Use this tab to choose the minimum settings for systems on which the video clip is played. For example, you can require that a user have at least a 1024-by-768 screen resolution to play the video clip. For options such as Play Dubbed Audio, you can select Either, Disabled, or Enabled. If you select Either, you defer to the settings in the user’s Multimedia panel of the Preferences dialog box. If you select Disabled or Enabled, the corresponding setting in Multimedia preferences must allow the rendition to be used. For example, if the Play Dubbed Audio option is enabled, the rendition may be used only if the Play Dubbed Audio preference option is selected.

Playback Requirements
Use this tab to select which attributes are required for the rendition to be played. The attributes on this tab include settings from the other tabs, letting you indicate which ones are required. For example, if you set the volume to 50% in the Playback Requirements tab, and you don’t want the rendition to be played unless this volume level can be used, make sure the Required box next to Volume is selected.